Guitarist Luis Enrique “Quique” Negrini is a native of the Afro-Peruvian city of Callao, Lima’s port. He and his wife, renowned vals criollo singer Nedda Huambachano, were admitted to the United States as artists. Negrini’s professional career developed in Peru as guitar accompanist of the internationally known Afro-Peruvian troupe Perú Negro (Black Peru).

In Miami, Negrini teaches guitar, performs a solo guitar and voice repertoire in restaurant engagements, and serves as advisor to the Afro-Peruvian music and dance ensemble Perú Expresión, directed by Jhonny More. Negrini is the ensemble’s direct link with Perú Negro, on which it is based.

With his wife Nedda Huambachano, Negrini organizes and presents multifaceted Peruvian artistic events. In May 2002, for example, they produced Noche de Gala (Gala Night) to launch Negrini’s first CD, titled Criollo No…¡Criollazo! (Not Creole … Super-Creole!). Huambachano and other singers from the peñas (music clubs) of Callao and Lima, now living in Miami, serenaded Negrini in the course of the evening. Perú Expresión also performed; among the highlights was a contrapunto de zapateo, a virtuoso dance duel accompanied by a cajón drum ensemble.

Nedda Huambachano, a leading performer of vals criollo in Miami's Peruvian community.
Photograph by Martha Ellen Davis.

Listen
Quique Negrini, vocals and guitar.
“Callao” (vals peruano). Composed by Eduardo Márquez Talledo.
From Quique Negrini, Criollo no . . . Criollazo!!!
Used by permission of Luis Enrique Negrini.

Listen
Quique Negrini, vocals and guitar.
“Lo Moreno” (“Dusky”) (vals peruano). Composed by Nedda Huambachano.
From Quique Negrini, Criollo no . . . Criollazo!!!
Used by permission of Luis Enrique Negrini.